SBISD Budget Wokshop cancelled last night due overcapacity

https://online.springbranchisd.com/parents/2023/supt_msg_111423.html

This notice got sent out around 8pm last night to SBISD. Was anyone in this sub there at the workshop? Was the situation that dire that they needed to cancel it, or did they cancel it just to make it harder for more people to speak up?

(I’m just a curious SBISD parent)

Copy/pasted from link:

Dear Spring Branch ISD families, staff and community,

Last night, the SBISD Board of Trustees was forced to adjourn its November Workshop meeting due to safety concerns based on the size of the crowd relative to the capacity of our Board Room, blocking the exits. We are grateful for our community’s engagement and the 127 individuals who registered to provide public comment as we face very difficult budget decisions. However, it is our responsibility to ensure safety and security for all.

Board President Chris Earnest, Trustees and I were eager to hear what our community members, parents and students had to say. But some of our community refused to comply with the safety requests made so that the meeting could continue and those who wished to speak could be heard. This was unfortunate.

My expectation is that when our Chief of Police and the Fire Marshall speak, people listen and follow their directions. It was disappointing to see adults and parents disregarding our Chief of Police in front of our children when his only motivation was to ensure the safety of those in the room.

The same commitment to safety applies in the board room as in the classroom. Our shared desire to create the safest possible learning environment for our children holds true not only at our schools, but also at every district facility and for every SBISD or campus event, board meetings included.

We recognize that the budget situation is creating stress and a sense of loss across our district as difficult decisions are considered. We understand that everyone wants to protect their program and the way things have always been done.

Sadly, while our state sits on the largest budget surplus ever, we are having to make difficult decisions that ultimately impact us all. We have to change with the times, and change is hard. Unfortunately, our state leaders have made sure these times are not favorable for public education and they are intentionally holding us hostage right now for their own agendas.

As stated last week, our Board of Trustees has seen our entire plan for addressing our $35 million shortfall. They understand why decisions have been brought forth in phases and they understand that the vast majority of our budget cuts are designed to protect our classrooms and sustain great learning for all 33,000 students, however possible. They also understand why we cannot share all aspects of our plan publicly now. We know this can feel frustrating. If we had been able to complete our presentation last night, the community would have better understood, too.

The board will take up several items from last night's agenda, including a presentation on our SKY partnerships and SPIRAL programming at their regularly scheduled meeting on November 27.

Thank you for your understanding as we keep safety and security as the highest priorities in SBISD.

Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools